Enhanced postition control of web pages

ABSTRACT

A solution is presented to keep track of the URLs that have been visited within an HTML file, identify the location or exit point of the last line that was displayed on a screen in a multi-screen HTML file, and return to the exact exit point location upon reentry to the web page by computing which section of the HTML file to display on the screen, and then displaying this section. The identification of whether a web page has changed after it has been visited by a user is also presented. A cyclic redundancy check is performed, comparing the current cyclic redundancy number with the last cyclic redundancy number obtained when the screen of exited multi-screen HTML file was last visited. If the web page has changed, the user has the option of viewing the web page at the top screen or going to the screen that contains the last exit position of the HTML file that was previously viewed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for user accessand retrieval of locations on world wide web networked computer systems,and more specifically for automatically returning to a previous screenposition in the Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

2. Description of Related Art

Access and retrieval of information on the Internet is performed usingHypertext Markup Language (HTML), which is essentially a scriptinglanguage that marks up a page with formatting commands. These commandsare then interpreted by a worldwide web networked computer system (web)browser and sent to a computer screen for viewing. Typically, on webpages the user can point to the words “continued on page 99” and expectpage 99 to automatically appear on the viewing screen. This is possiblebecause the page currently being viewed, and the “continued” page arelinked together.

Universal resource locators are often used to direct the user throughvarious pages at a site on the world wide web. There are two ways oflinking pages: relative linking and absolute linking. Using an entireURL is absolute linking. Relative linking requires only a portion of theURL that is not already referenced by a previous URL in a URL hierarchy,to be indicated in an HTML source file. The relative link is thencombined by a web browser with the previous link to build the completeURL.

Absolute linking requires the entire URL. This is an exact pointer tothe location, directory, and HTML source file where the informationresides that the user ultimately wants to link.

However, when a user accesses a URL then leaves the URL, there iscurrently no way to return to the exact position within the HTML file inthe URL when the user returns to the URL at another time. When a useraccesses and views a URL that presents a multi-screen web page, scrollsusing a combination of the page key and slide bar, leaves the URL andlater returns to the URL, the web browser does not position the viewerat the exit point in the URL. The user cannot return to the exact pointon the web page that was last visited. The first issue is keeping trackof the last visited position in the web page and computing the sectionof the web page to present on a screen, and the second issue is that theweb page may have changed since last visited. It then becomes a problemto return to the last screen previously displayed when the last screenmay have changed.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,860, issued to Graber, et al., on 10 Feb. 1998,entitled, “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING THE NAVIGATION PATH OF AUSER ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB,” the last previous world wide web sitevisited by the user is determined. A database is provided for storing aplurality of user records. Each of the user records includes a useridentification field for storing information uniquely associating eachof the user records with a user, and a co-marketer identification fieldfor storing identity information representing the identity of an entitythat directed the user to the computer service.

Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it istherefore an object of the present invention to provide a uniform systemfor keeping track of the last visited position in the web page andcomputing the section of the web page to present on a screen.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a uniformsystem for returning to the last screen previously displayed when thelast screen may have changed.

It is yet another object of the present invention to identify thelocation of the last line that was displayed on a screen in amulti-screen web page and be able to return to the exact position uponre-entry to the web page.

It is another object of the present invention to identify when a webpage has been visited.

Still other advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and willin part be apparent from the specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and other objects and advantages, which will be apparent toone of skill in the art, are achieved in the present invention which isdirected to, in a first aspect, a method of tracking uniform resourcelocators in a multi-screen HTML file having a top screen and at leastone hyperlink line for each screen, comprising the steps of: a)traversing one or more screens in a first multi-screen HTML file; b)exiting the first multi-screen HTML file at an exit point; c) traversingother screens of at least one other multi-screen HTML file; and, d)returning to the exit point.

The exit point is at a location other than the exit point in the firstmulti-screen HTML file.

In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method formonitoring a multi-screen HTML file exit point when linking betweenmulti-screen HTML files, comprising the steps of: a) providing a firstmulti-screen HTML file having a first exit point and at least onehyperlink line to a second multi-screen HTML file; b) using thehyperlink line to traverse and display a screen of the secondmulti-screen HTML file having a second exit point; c) identifying thefirst exit point location using the last of the hyperlink linesdisplayed on the screen of the first multi-screen HTML file; and, d)returning to the first exit point location upon re-entry from the screenof second multi-screen HTML file to the screen of the first multi-screenHTML file.

This method may further comprise identifying when the screen of thefirst multi-screen HTML file has been changed after the user hastraversed to the screen of the second multi-screen HTML file.

Additionally, this method may further comprise the following steps: e)logging a cyclic redundancy number of the screen of the firstmulti-screen HTML file; f) comparing a current cyclic redundancy numberof the first multi-screen HTML file with the logged cyclic redundancynumber; and, g) returning to the screen of the first multi-screen HTMLfile that contains the last of the hyperlink lines previously viewed.

Alternatively, this method may further comprise the steps: e) logging afirst cyclic redundancy number of the first multi-screen HTML file; f)comparing the first logged cyclic redundancy number of the firstmulti-screen HTML file with a current cyclic redundancy number; g)returning to the exit point of the first multi-screen HTML file if thecurrent cyclic redundancy number is the same as the first logged cyclicredundancy number; and, h) returning to the top screen of the firstmulti-screen HTML file if the current cyclic redundancy number isdifferent from the first logged cyclic redundancy number.

In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a method oftracking a uniform resource locator in a first multi-screen HTML filehaving a top screen, and exit point, and at least one hyperlink line foreach screen, comprising the steps of: a) accessing the uniform resourcelocator from the first multi-screen HTML file; b) comparing the uniformresource locator accessed to uniform resource locators stored in auniform resource locator table; c) displaying the accessed uniformresource locator if the uniform resource locator is not in the table; d)performing a cyclic redundancy check by comparing a current cyclicredundancy number to a logged cyclic redundancy number; e) if thecurrent cyclic redundancy number is equal to the logged cyclicredundancy number:

-   -   1) identifying the exit point of the last of the hyperlink lines        displayed from the uniform resource locator;    -   2) identifying the number of lines of the HTML file that can be        displayed on the screen;    -   3) computing a first section of the HTML file using the line        number of the last of the hyperlink lines; and,    -   4) displaying the first section of the HTML file on a web        browser; and, f) if the current cyclic redundancy number is not        equal to the logged cyclic redundancy number, displaying the        accessed uniform resource locator at the beginning of the HTML        file on a web browser.

This method may further comprise the steps of: g) scrolling forwards andbackwards on the HTML file using a slide bar and page keys; h)identifying a new uniform resource locator number of the last line ofthe hyperlink lines displayed on the screen; i) comparing the newuniform resource locator number to the uniform resource locator tablevalues; j) if the new uniform resource locator number is not in theuniform resource locator table, adding the new uniform resource locatorand corresponding cyclic redundancy number to the table; k) adding thelast line of the hyperlink lines to the uniform resource locator table;l) computing a second section of the HTML file using the line number ofthe last of the hyperlink lines; and, m) displaying the second sectionof the HTML file on a web browser.

The present invention is directed to, in a fourth aspect, a method oftracking uniform resource locators in a multi-screen HTML file having atop screen and at least one hyperlink line for each screen, comprisingthe steps of: a) traversing one or more screens in a first set ofmulti-screen HTML files; b) exiting the first set of multi-screen HTMLfiles at a plurality of exit points; c) traversing other screens of atleast one other set of multi-screen HTML files; and, d) returning to theexit points from the at least one other set of multi-screen HTML files.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention is directed to a programstorage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program ofinstructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps fortracking uniform resource locators in a multi-screen HTML file having atop screen and at least one hyperlink line for each screen, where a usertraverses one or more screens in a first multi-screen HTML file, exitsthe first multi-screen HTML file, and returns to the first file, themethod steps comprising: a) adapting the program to exit the firstmulti-screen HTML file at an exit point; b) retaining the exit pointlocation and allowing the user to traverse other screens of at least oneother multi-screen HTML file; and, c) returning to the exit point.

In a sixth aspect, the present invention is directed to a programstorage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program ofinstructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps formonitoring a web page screen location when linking between multi-screenweb pages, the method steps comprising: a) providing a firstmulti-screen HTML file having a first exit point and at least onehyperlink line to a second multi-screen HTML file, b) using thehyperlink line to traverse and display a screen of the secondmulti-screen HTML file having a second exit point; c) identifying thefirst exit point location using the last of the hyperlink linesdisplayed on the screen of the first multi-screen HTML file; d)returning to the first exit point location upon re-entry from the screenof second multi-screen HTML file to the screen of the first multi-screenHTML file; and, e) identifying when the screen of the first multi-screenHTML file has been changed after the user has traversed to the screen ofthe second multi-screen HTML file.

The present invention is directed to, in a seventh aspect, a programstorage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program ofinstructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps fortracking a uniform resource locator in a first multi-screen HTML filehaving a top screen and at least one hyperlink line for each screen, themethod steps comprising: a) accessing the uniform resource locator fromthe first multi-screen HTML file; b) comparing the uniform resourcelocator accessed to uniform resource locators stored in a uniformresource locator table;

c) displaying the accessed uniform resource locator if the uniformresource locator is not in the table; d) performing a cyclic redundancycheck by comparing a current cyclic redundancy number to a logged cyclicredundancy number; e) if the current cyclic redundancy number is equalto the logged cyclic redundancy number:

-   -   1) identifying the exit point of the last of the hyperlink lines        displayed from the uniform resource locator;    -   2) identifying the number of lines of the HTML file that can be        displayed on the screen;    -   3) computing a first section of the HTML file using the line        number of the last of the hyperlink lines; and,    -   4) displaying the first section of the HTML file on a web        browser; and,

f) if the current cyclic redundancy number is not equal to the loggedcyclic redundancy number, displaying the accessed uniform resourcelocator at the beginning of the HTML file on a web browser.

This program storage device may further comprise the method steps of: g)scrolling forwards and backwards on the HTML file using a slide bar andpage keys; h) identifying a new uniform resource locator number of thelast line of the hyperlink lines displayed on the screen; i) comparingthe new uniform resource locator number to the uniform resource locatortable values; j) if the new uniform resource locator number is not inthe uniform resource locator table, adding the new uniform resourcelocator and corresponding cyclic redundancy number to the table; k)adding the last line of the hyperlink lines to the uniform resourcelocator table; 1) computing a second section of the HTML file using theline number of the last of the hyperlink lines; and, m) displaying thesecond section of the HTML file on a web browser.

Lastly, in an eighth aspect, the present invention is directed to aprogram storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a programof instructions executable by the machine to perform the method stepsfor tracking uniform resource locator exit points in a first set ofmulti-screen HTML files having a top screen and at least one hyperlinkline for each screen, where a user traverses one or more screens in saidfirst set of multi-screen HTML files, exits said first set ofmulti-screen HTML files at a plurality of exit points, and returns toany of said exit points, said method steps comprising: a) adapting saidprogram to exit said first set of multi-screen HTML files at saidplurality of exit points; b) retaining said plurality of exit pointlocations and allowing said user to traverse other screens of at leastone other set of multi-screen HTML files; and, c) returning to said exitpoints from said at least one other set of multi-screen HTML files.

The first set of multi-screen HTML files may comprise more than one HTMLfile, and the at least one other set of multi-screen HTML files maycomprise more than one HTML file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elementscharacteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and arenot drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as toorganization and method of operation, may best be understood byreference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the method of the present invention indicatingdecision options for comparing URLs to those in a table, incrementing acyclic redundancy check number, and obtaining the last URL position.

FIG. 2 is continuation of the flow chart of FIG. 1 indicating decisionoptions for obtaining a new URL, updating the new URL position, anddisplaying this new position on the screen.

FIG. 3 represents a computer system for performing the method ofenhanced position control of web pages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention,reference will be made herein to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings in which likenumerals refer to like features of the invention. Features of theinvention are not necessarily shown to scale in the drawings.

The following terms in the art are defined herein as they pertain to theenhanced position control of web pages:

-   -   URL Table—This is a table that contains a URL, the CRC number        and the line number of the last line of the HTML file that was        displayed at the bottom of the screen.    -   CRC—Cyclic Redundancy Check.    -   Cyclic Redundancy Number or CRC Number—This is a number produced        by a cyclic redundancy check.    -   HTML—This stands for the Hypertext Markup Language.    -   HTML Source File—File with the HTML markup tags to be converted        by a web browser to be displayed on a monitor. This file may        also have code such as java and or java script. This is executed        by the browser to display on a monitor.    -   HTML File—This is an HTML source file that has been formatted by        the web browser and/or had code such as java script or java        executed, and the output of the formatting and/or code execution        is displayed on a monitor.    -   SCREEN—This is a portion of the HTML file that the viewer sees        when a web browser displays the HTML file on a monitor.    -   URL (Uniform Resource Locator) This is a text string that        indicates the server protocol to use in accessing the resource,        the Internet domain name of the server, and the name and        location of the resource on the particular server.    -   WEB PAGE—This is an HTML file.

The present invention keeps track of the URLs that were visited,identifies the location of the exit point (last line that was displayedon a screen in a multi-screen HTML file) and is able to return to theexact position of the exit point upon re-entry to the HTML file bycomputing which section of the HTML file to display on the screen anddisplaying this section. Since the HTML file may have changed since thelast time the URL was visited, it is also desirable to identify when anHTML file is visited, keeping and comparing the current cyclicredundancy number with the previous cyclic redundancy number to see ifthe HTML file has changed. If the HTML file has changed, the viewer hasthe option of viewing the HTML file at the top screen, or going to thescreen that contains the last line position of the HTML file that waspreviously viewed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 delineate the program flow for identifying the lastposition of the exit point in the URL when a user returns to the URL atanother time.

As indicated in the FIG. 1 flowchart, the user starts the process at100. Next, the system accesses the URL from a web browser 101. A check102 is then made to assess whether the URL identifier is in a URL table.If the URL is not in the URL table, the URL is displayed 103, else, acyclic redundancy check (CRC) 104 is performed on the URL. If the URL isdisplayed 103, then a new position is obtained 200, as depicted in FIG.2.

Next, the URL is checked to see if it has changed since the last time itwas accessed 105 by comparing the CRC number of the cyclic redundancythat was just done with the stored CRC number from the URL table. If theURL is new 106, it is possible to display this new URL at the beginningof the HTML file. The user is queried for this option. Otherwise, if theURL is not changed, the last position is acquired 107. The line numberof the last line of the HTML file that was displayed at the bottom ofthe screen from the URL table is obtained. The screen is then computed108 by identifying the number of lines of an HTML file that can bedisplayed on the screen, using the line number of the last line of theHTML file that was displayed from the URL table, and computing thesection of the HTML file to display on the web browser. The portion ofthe HTML file that was just computed is then displayed 109 on thescreen.

If the URL is displayed as indicated in 103, the system then uses theweb browser to scroll 200 forward or backward on the HTML file. The linenumber in the HTML file of the last line that was displayed at thebottom of the screen is then retrieved 201. Again, a check is performed202 to inquire if the URL is in the URL table. If not, the URL is addedto the URL table, and the CRC is also added to the URL table 203. If,however, the URL checked in 202 above was in the URL table, a newposition is updated 204. This is accomplished by adding the last line ofthe HTML file that was displayed on the bottom of the screen to the URLtable. The portion of the HTML file that was just computed is thendisplayed 205 on the screen.

At this point the user is queried as to whether a new display on thescreen is desired 206, and if so, whether one should continue. If theuser elects to continue, the system again uses the web browser to scroll200 forward or backward on the HTML file. Else, a new URL may berequested 207, and then accessed from the web browser 101. Otherwise,the user may opt to exit the system 208. Scrolling is achieved by usingthe page keys and slide bar.

Additionally, the present invention is capable of logging and returningto a plurality of exit points in a set of multi-screen HTML files afterthe user has traversed through a second set of multi-screen HTML files.

FIG. 3 represents a computer system for performing the method ofenhanced position control of web pages. A program storage device 20readable by machine 10, 12, 14, tangibly embodies a program ofinstructions executable by the machine 20 to perform theabove-identified method steps depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 for tracking auniform resource locator in a first multi-screen HTML file having a topscreen and a hyperlink line for each screen.

The present invention provides a uniform system for returning to thelast screen previously displayed by keeping track of the last visitedposition in a web page or HTML file and computing the section of the webpage to present to the user on a screen. It also keeps track of when thelast HTML file has been visited so that updates to the HTML file may berecognized before the user re-enters the file.

While the present invention has been particularly described, inconjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident thatmany alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It istherefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any suchalternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the truescope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A method of tracking uniform resource locators in a multi-screen HTMLfile having a top screen and at least one hyperlink line for eachscreen, comprising the steps of: a) traversing one or more screens in afirst multi-screen HTML file; b) identifying when said firstmulti-screen HTML file was visited; c) exiting said first multi-screenHTML file at an exit point; d) traversing other screens of at least oneother multi-screen HTML file; and, e) allowing a viewer to return tosaid exit point or return to said first multi-screen HTML file at itstop screen if said first multi-screen HTML file was changed.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said exit point is the last line displayed ona screen in said first multi-screen HTML file. 3-8. (canceled)
 9. Amethod of tracking uniform resource locators in a multi-screen HTML filehaving a top screen and at least one hyperlink line for each screen,comprising the steps of: a) traversing one or more screens in a firstset of multi-screen HTML files; b) identifying when said first set ofmulti-screen HTML files was visited; c) exiting said first set ofmulti-screen HTML files at a plurality of exit points; d) traversingother screens of at least one other set of multi-screen HTML files; and,e) allowing a viewer to return to said exit points from said at leastone other set of multi-screen HTML files or return to said first set ofmulti-screen HTML files at a top screen if said first set ofmulti-screen HTML file was changed. 10-15. (canceled)
 16. A programstorage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program ofinstructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps fortracking a uniform resource locator in a first multi-screen HTML filehaving a top screen and at least one hyperlink for each screen, saidmethod steps comprising: a) traversing one or more screens in a firstmulti-screen HTML file; b) identifying when said first multi-screen HTMLfile was visited; c) exiting said first multi-screen HTML file at anexit point; d) traversing other screens of at least one othermulti-screen HTML file; and, e) allowing a viewer to return to said exitpoint or return to said first multi-screen HTML file at its top screenif said first multi-screen HTML file was changed.